Udine, Italy — On a warm August evening at the Stadio Friuli, two clubs from vastly different trajectories are set to open the European season with silverware on the line. Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning Champions League winner, and Tottenham Hotspur, last season’s surprise Europa League champion, meet Wednesday night in the UEFA Super Cup.

For Paris, the match is more than just the continuation of a winning cycle. After a historic campaign in which they claimed four trophies — including the club’s first Champions League title — Luis Enrique’s team arrives with clear intent: to reaffirm their dominance on the continent from the very first whistle of the 2025–26 season. The French champions are chasing a fifth trophy in less than a year, armed with the confidence of a squad that has grown accustomed to victory.

Tottenham arrives with a more understated profile, but no shortage of ambition. Under new manager Thomas Frank, the North London club has found fresh momentum in its unexpected Europa League triumph, a 1–0 win over Manchester United in May. Even shorthanded by the absences of key players like James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, Spurs carry the belief that they can rise to the occasion.

Tactical backdrop

Without Gianluigi Donnarumma, sidelined amid contract disputes, and with Joao Neves suspended, PSG will rely on Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé to set a tempo few opponents can withstand. Tottenham, missing several starters, could turn to new signing Mohammed Kudus and a tightly organized defensive structure to weather the inevitable Parisian pressure.

The match is the first-ever competitive meeting between these two clubs in UEFA competition — a collision of two modern football realities: on one side, the financial and sporting might of a squad assembled for immediate glory; on the other, the resilience of a team that has fought its way forward against doubts and limitations.

More than money on the line

Beyond the trophy, the Super Cup offers a welcome financial boost. Broadcast rights, global exposure, and commercial incentives make it a valuable early-season prize. Yet both managers have framed the match as more than an economic opportunity: starting the year with a title is a statement to the rest of Europe.

Prediction

The consensus among analysts is clear: PSG enters as the favorite. With a deep, experienced squad capable of turning possession into goals, Paris is well-positioned to dictate the pace. Tottenham will need to survive the opening half-hour — often PSG’s most dangerous period — to have a chance at an upset.

The prevailing forecast: Paris Saint-Germain 3, Tottenham Hotspur 1, with Spurs finding a goal to ensure the final is no stroll.

Tonight in Udine, the European season begins. And for one of these clubs, it may start with a familiar act — lifting a trophy into the summer sky.